Hi Neighbors!

Since it is raining and still so wet, we are postponing the parklet cleanup until 11am to give the ground a few hours to dry out. If it’s still too wet at 11am, we will cancel.

Thanks!

Join us at the Bryant St. Parklet for our annual Spring Clean Up! We will be trimming, edging, planting flowers, and more at the green space on Bryant Street that is so loved by many neighbors. Hardly a day goes by when neighbors aren’t enjoying this beautiful space. Let’s work together to keep it lovely!

5/18/24
9am-12pm
Donuts will be provided!
**Please bring your own gloves and gardening tools.

See you there!

This month’s HPCC Community meeting will be this Thursday, May 16th, 7 pm, at the Bryant Street Parklet.  While the meeting is primarily a social one, you will also get updates from the HPCC and Zone 5, plus people from many local organizations who we’ve invited to introduce themselves and their programs, including:

• Highland Park fishing classes
• Highland Park ranger
• The Compost People
• The Highland Park/East Liberty Bike/Pedestrian Committee
• Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
• Zumba in the park

See you there!

By Kim Broniek & Elisa Vettier

If you’ve spent any time at Highland Park, you’ve probably noticed the dancers at the fountain. A dedicated and diverse group of people gathers throughout the week, led by Ashlee Lynn who has been instructing Zumba classes next to the park fountain since the pandemic. Ashlee makes Highland Park a better place by bringing fitness, exhilarating dance, a sense of community, joy and inclusion to our neighborhood. 

Ashlee brings together community members through Zumba and exercise classes all on a donation basis. Her philosophy is safety first but we dance through all seasons including winter when the temperature is single digits and summer when temperatures soar into the 90s. If it starts to rain during class we just keep dancing. This past winter after a heavy snow, several of us came with our shovels and salt to make sure the space was clear enough to have class. When the clocks change and class is held in the dark, Ashlee comes equipped with a spotlight so that we can see her. Where there is a will, there is a way to keep dancing. We call her “All Weather Ashley!”

Ashley also makes sure that every class is streamed on Zoom for those that might be traveling or unable to attend in person, and if she happens to be out of town she is sure to find a substitute instructor for us so that we do not disrupt our weekly exercise schedules. Ashlee has also taken time out of her vacation while traveling to instruct a Zoom session to keep us dancing!

The sense of community is felt beyond dancing and exercise. Attendees sometimes bring food donations shared with whomever happens to be in attendance that day. Ashlee has organized clothing swaps on class days where we bring Zumba/workout clothes that no longer fit us and are able to swap for something that others have brought. Any clothing left over is donated to a local charity. 

To add some additional fun to classes, Ashlee has held glow-in-the-dark Zumba, ugly Christmas sweater Zumba and, for Mardi Gras, we all wore fun masks and beads.  She also gives back to us by organizing student appreciation gatherings which have included finger foods and gift basket prizes. She appreciates her students as much as we appreciate all that she does for us.  How she can find all of the jamming beats/diverse playlists and remember all of the moves is amazing! 

By supporting fundraising events such as Spin Your Wheels and collaborating with other instructors bringing pop up classes such as Buti Yoga (recently held at the fountain), Ashlee has brought additional exercise opportunities to attendees.  

The classes have become more than music, exercise and dance: There has been a ripple effect generating friendships, networking, a sense of community, care and support for each other.